Structure
Verb［ている］+ ところ + だ
Details
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About ているところだ
In the previous grammar point, we learned that たところ (or ていたところ) will mean 'just did (A)', or 'was just doing (A)'. ているところ works in a similar way, but expresses that someone is right in the middle of doing something. It is regularly translated as 'doing (A) right now', or 'in the process of (A)'.
Caution
Using ているところ will indicate that someone is 'busy with (A)', and would therefore not be used when changing actions suddenly. In these cases ているところだった would be used, before the (B) phrase would further explain what happened next.
- 映画を見ているところだったから電話に出れなかった。I was in the middle of watching a movie, so I couldn't answer the phone.
-
ギターを弾いているところだったからメッセージに気付かなかった。I was in the middle of playing my guitar, so I didn't notice your message.
Synonyms
ている①
Is, Am, Are (~ing)
Not studied yet
ている①
Is, Am, Are (~ing)
Not studied yet
とき
When, At the time of
Not studied yet
ているあいだに
While, During the time that ~
Not studied yet
途中に・途中で
On the way, Partway, In the middle of
Not studied yet
中
During, While, Throughout, In the process of
Not studied yet
最中に
In the middle of
Not studied yet
うちに
While, During
Not studied yet
の間に
While, During, Between, Period
Not studied yet
ながら
While ~ing, During, As
Not studied yet
ついでに
While you are at it, On the occasion
Not studied yet
～ところに・～ところへ
At the time, When, While, Timing
Not studied yet
Examples
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今、映画を見ているところです。
I am in the process of watching a movie right now.
今、お父さんは富士山を登っているところです。
My dad is in the process of climbing Mt. Fuji right now.
警察官がパトロールをしているところです。
The police officer is in the process of doing her patrol at this moment.
今、先生に聞いているところです。
I am in the process of asking the teacher right now.
僕は今日本語を勉強しているところだけど。
I am in the process of studying Japanese right now. (Annoyed that he is being interrupted)
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ているところだ – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (6 in total)
matt_in_mito
払っていたところ is also acceptable but generally in Japanese the tense of a sentence only comes at the end.
The same can be said for levels of politeness - i.e. use plain form throughout a long sentence and stick ます on the end to make it polite.
mrnoone
Hey and welcome on the community forums @Jl45
Like @matt_in_mito said, usually in Japanese tense of the sentence is determined at the end. Like in this case, whether you use ている and ていた the meaning is the same, the interlocutor picks the tense from the context.
Though there are cases when you are forced to use certain forms, like past form before あと or
non-past before 前,By the way, read this post:
Scyamntic
Indeed it does!
いつも手伝ってくれてありがとうな！
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